Page 3 of Enduring Magic

“Witch!”

He gave her a gentle squeeze because it was impossible not to. “Witch is right. Are you ready for your nap, my little witch?”

“At this hour?” Alastair frowned and glanced at his watch. “It’s only half past ten.”

Although he was loath to admit it, Coop said, “She was up most of the night. I think she misses Summer.”

“Understandable.” The gentleness in Alastair’s voice caused Coop to glance up. “I’ve been through it with my three. Sometimes, only a mother’s soothing presence will do.”

“Yeah. It took me forever to get her down to sleep last night.”

Looking at Coop as if he’d lost his damned mind, Alastair shook his head. “Son, you are a magical being. At any time, you could utilize a spell to put her to bed and save yourself the grief. Why you insist on going down a magicless path is beyond me.”

Keaton chuckled. “It’s beyond all of us.” He peeled the last of the pancake from between Jolly’s fingers and waved a hand to clean his son. With a taunting grin for Coop, he said, “So much easier.”

Alastair gestured with his thumb. “See? Even the slowest member of your family agrees.” His lips twitched as if he fought a smile when Keaton began to sputter his objection to being called slow. “And on that note, I’ll leave you all to it. I have an umbrella cocktail waiting back on the ship.”

“Umbrella cocktail?” Coop and Keaton asked in stereo. They shared an incredulous look.

Coop turned back to stare at Alastair. “Since when do you like umbrella drinks?”

“Oh, I don’t. I simply said I had one waiting back on the ship. I need to return and make it seem as if I’m enjoying it to appease Rorie and the girls. It’s really a simple glamour to hide my scotch.” He chuckled, and the sound lingered moments after he teleported away.

“Well, that was fun,” Coop said, lifting Olivia to take a tentative sniff of her bottom. He shifted her until they were eye to eye. “Now I know why your papaw left so suddenly.”

“Papaw?” Keaton laughed uproariously. “Does Alastair know you call him that?”

Coop gave his brother an evil grin. “Not yet. But he will when Olivia is talking full sentences.”

“Dude. You have a death wish.”

* * *

Summer rana hand over the mirror to wipe away the evidence of her scrying. Turning to her mother, she smiled. “At least they didn’t kill each other.”

“Papaw!” Aurora crowed. Her tinkling laugh warmed Summer’s insides. Never would she get tired of hearing her mother’s beloved voice in any capacity. Too many years had been stolen from them due to a stray bullet meant for her father’s heart. The fact her mother was standing before her now was a miracle of epic proportions.

“Do you think Dad really believes we don’t know he’s switched out the rum runner for his Glenfiddich?”

Her mother gave an elegant shrug. “One never knows with your father, dear. But let’s go back topside because he’ll be searching for us.”

“You go ahead. I’ll be up shortly.”

“You can nap just as easily in a lounger.” Aurora smoothed back Summer’s hair. “The exhaustion on your face tells me you didn’t sleep all that well last night, either. The first time you’re away from your child is worrisome, isn’t it?”

“It is. I didn’t think it would be so hard, Mama.” Summer sat heavily on the edge of the bed. “I haven’t spent a night without Coop in almost two years. And now with Olivia…” With a grimace, she asked, “Am I being pathetic?”

Her mother’s soft smile assured her she wasn’t. “Take your nap. I have other ways to entertain your father.” Aurora winked just before she sailed out the door.

Envisioning Coop’s old bedroom at the Carlyle estate, Summer closed her eyes and allowed her magic to warm her cells. When she lifted her lids, she was standing in the center of the room. It took only a moment to find Coop in the nursery, rocking Olivia as she played with his chin.

He glanced up as Summer entered, and his wide, pleased smile filled her with untold joy. It would always be so, this happiness to see him.

“Hey, sweetheart.” His gruff, sexy-as-hell tone curled her toes.

“Hey.” She touched a hand to Olivia’s silky blonde locks, then dropped a soft, lingering kiss on Coop’s welcoming mouth.

“Shouldn’t you be sitting by a pool somewhere as your ship speeds toward the islands?” he teased.

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